Tars in biomass gasification systems need to be removed to avoid damaging and clogging downstream pipes or equipment. In this study. Ni-based catalysts were made by mechanically mixing NiO and char particles at various ratios. Catalytic performance of the Ni/char catalysts was studied and compared with performance of wood char and coal char without Ni for syngas cleanup in a laboratory-scale updraft biomass gasifier. Reforming parameters investigated were reaction temperature (650-850 degrees C), NiO loading (5-20% of the weight of char support), and gas residence time (0.1-1.2 s). The Ni/coalchar and Ni/wood-char catalysts removed more than 97% of tars in syngas at 800 degrees C reforming temperature. 15% NiO loading, and 0.3 s gas residence time. Analysis of syngas composition indicated that concentrations of H(2) and CO in syngas significantly. Furthermore, performance of the Ni/coalchar catalyst was continuously tested for 8 h. There was slight deactivation of the catalyst in the early stage of tar/syngas reforming; however, the catalyst was able to stabilize soon after. It was concluded that chars especially coal char can be an effective and inexpensive support of NiO for biomass gasification tar removal and syngas conditioning. Published by Elsevier Ltd.